3rd Annual California Water Resilience Forum highlights growing momentum and investment across sectors
More than 100 leaders from business, government, philanthropy, and civil society came together for the 3rd Annual California Water Resilience Forum, hosted by the California Water Resilience Initiative (CWRI). The event underscored both the urgency of California’s water challenges and the important role of the private sector in driving scalable solutions.
CWRI is a private-sector-led initiative accelerating collaborative action to secure a water-resilient future for the state. California faces many water challenges, including a projected 10% water supply gap by 2040 driven by climate change. Resilient water systems are essential to ensuring thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and a strong state economy.
“Water resilience is a business imperative,” said Matt Kistler, CEO of the Water Resilience Coalition. “Companies increasingly recognize that investing in water solutions is essential to safeguarding supply chains, supporting communities, and strengthening California’s long-term economic and ecological well-being.”
Forum Highlights and Themes
The Forum featured perspectives from state agencies, private sector leaders, water managers, and nonprofit partners. Emilio Tenuta, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, summed up the day: “Water is not just a risk to manage – it’s a resource to invest in.”
Discussions focused on practical investment pathways, emerging opportunities to scale proven solutions, and new collaborative models that create both community and ecological benefits.
Across the program, three central themes emerged:
- Water resilience is smart business. Stable water supplies underpin economic growth and community well-being.
- Collaboration and investment drive impact. Strong partnerships accelerate scalable, systems-level solutions.
- Corporate leadership can transform the future. Business engagement is shifting from project-by-project action to strategic, multi-basin resilience planning.
Growing Momentum Through the California Water Resilience Initiative
Established in 2023, CWRI has an ambitious target to reduce, reuse, and restore one million acre-feet of water per year by 2030, aligned with California’s Water Supply Strategy. Led by the Pacific Institute in partnership with Ecolab, General Mills, and LimnoTech, CWRI is enabling corporate engagement in scalable water projects, public-private partnerships, and innovative finance to deliver meaningful water benefits across the state.
The initiative is already showing results, with more water projects underway, more companies engaged, and increased corporate funding supporting on-the-ground action across agricultural lands, urban water systems, and natural ecosystems. The latest progress update, presented at the Forum, shows strong growth:
- 70 water stewardship projects statewide in 2025, a 30% increase from 2024.
- 94 corporate contributions to water projects in 2025, up 29% from 2024.
- 553,990 acre-feet per year of projected water benefits by 2030, with 33,933 acre-feet per year directly attributable to corporate contributions.
Projects highlighted at the Forum represented agricultural water efficiency, urban leak loss reduction, and watershed restoration. Each demonstrated how collaboration can produce measurable benefits for people and ecosystems.
Looking Ahead
CWRI welcomes new participants and partners. Engagement opportunities include collaboration on project development and implementation, capacity-building support, and event sponsorship. Participation is open to any organization committed to collective action on shared water challenges.
“The future of water resilience in California depends on accelerated, coordinated action,” said Cora Snyder, Program Manager at the Pacific Institute and coordinator of CWRI. “The momentum at this year’s Forum demonstrates what is possible when organizations work together toward shared goals.”
To learn more about CWRI and opportunities to engage, contact cwri@pacinst.org.